Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has clarified that his involvement in the club's recruitment process remains unchanged following the departure of Director of Football Craig Gardner over a month ago. The club has yet to appoint a replacement, but has pressed ahead with summer signings, including Jhon Solis and Dael Fry, while also pursuing the return of James Beadle on loan and a permanent deal for Ibrahim Osman.
Recruitment structure without Gardner
Head of recruitment Joe Carnall is now leading transfer operations, supported by head of recruitment data Steven Spencer and a team built under Gardner's tenure. Davies noted that the club benefits from the experience of former Premier League sporting directors Mike Rigg and Scott Sellars, who work in the academy. Knighthead's Andrew Shannahan also takes an active interest in player recruitment.
Explaining the process, Davies told BirminghamLive: "You've got Joe Carnall as head of recruitment, obviously with Craig not being there we've got the experience of someone like Mike Rigg who is supporting us as well. He's been really helpful and has loads of experience."
Davies' role and strategic approach
Davies emphasized that his role remains consistent, though the dynamics have shifted compared to previous summers. He participates in weekly board meetings and maintains daily contact with the recruitment team. "My involvement is the same but it's been different compared to the last two summers. We are going to have to be very, very strategic with what we do," he said.
The manager detailed his involvement late in the process: "The recruitment team identify the players and recommend the players, I then come in towards the end of that process based on what we can afford, what's available, and I start looking at them and say, 'Right, now let me speak to someone that works in their league or who has coached them or played with them'. I try to do multiple character checks and they are usually fairly accurate."
Focus on physicality and set pieces
Davies has emphasized improving the team's physical attributes, including size, speed, and power, with a particular focus on set pieces following the appointment of Scott Fry. The signings of Solis and Fry, both tall players, reflect this strategy. Davies added: "I would like to have a bigger team and make sure we've got the right delivery. We've signed one player, Dael Fry, who scored against us from a set piece. I would like to make sure we are bigger and more physical than last year."
